Eastern Michigan 20, Purdue football 19 | The day after

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Is Purdue’s season over before it gets started?

Too dramatic? Probably.

At worst, the Boilermakers should’ve been 1-1 heading into this three-game stretch against Missouri, Boston College and Nebraska. The self-inflicted wounds, turnovers and mistakes cost this team a chance on Saturday to avoid an embarrassing loss to Eastern Michigan.

Even if the Boilermakers had played with more discipline and poise, they'd still be 1-1. But where does that first win come from now? The free square – playing a Mid-American Conference program – was wasted and the Eagles walked out of Ross-Ade Stadium with a win and a $550,000 check.

On with the countdown:

5 PLAYERS OF NOTE

• Cornel Jones. Mentioned the sophomore last week after he collected the only tackles for loss against Northwestern. The middle linebacker came alive in the second half Saturday but will be remembered for one play. His personal foul penalty on third-and-8 after sacking quarterback Tyler Wiegers and extended EMU’s life. The Eagles would’ve had to convert a fourth-and-14 from their own 37. You know what happened from there. Jones has the right intensity, passion and skill to become a “big-time linebacker” as Nick Holt proclaimed when Florida native signed. The trio of Jones, Markus Bailey and Derrick Barnes have a chance to be a solid group by the end of the season, but Jones must play under control.

• D.J. Knox. Another Boilermaker with a monster game. The senior set a career high with 152 yards, including the 45-yard TD that gave Purdue a 19-17 lead with 6:41 to play. Averaged 7.2 yards per carry and totaled over 100 yards in the second half. Combined with Markell Jones to help the Boilermakers rushed for 341 yards – the program’s highest mark since 2014. Jones also went over 100 yards as Purdue featured two 100-yard rushers in the same game since 2002 against Indiana. But like Cornel Jones, Knox will be remembered for one play. His unsportsmanlike penalty after his TD run – right or wrong – directly impacted the outcome. Holding an 18-17 lead, Jeff Brohm was prepared to go for two and extend the lead to three points. But after the Boilermakers were backed up to the 18-yard line, Brohm kicked the PAT. Without the penalty and if the two-point conversion is good, the late field goal ties the game. The ripple effect of penalties is real.

• Tyler Wiegers. The EMU quarterback, a graduate transfer from Iowa, was under pressure throughout the second half. Purdue finished with six sacks – five against Wiegers, who was on a high alert all day. Despite the pressure and the wet conditions, Wiegers was solid. He completed 20 of 28 passes for 312 yards, including a 75-yard score for the Eagles’ first touchdown. He excelled when it counted – the final drive of each half.

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Eastern Michigan quarterback Tyler Wiegers with a pass against Purdue in the first half Saturday, September 8, 2018, in West Lafayette. Purdue fell to Eastern Michigan 20-19.(Photo: John Terhune/Journal & Courier, )

He guided EMU to a field goal in the last 59 seconds before halftime and delivered a key fourth-down conversion for 23 yards to keep the final drive alive. Combined, he was 6 of 9 for 102 yards on those two drives, leading to six points. What was the score of this game again?

• Markus Bailey. The Purdue linebacker was part of the second-half pressure parade that should give this defense some confidence. Bailey and Cornel Jones teamed up for what was believed to be an important third-down sack, only to see the Eagles convert on fourth down. The Boilermakers need Bailey more than ever now.

This young defense needs his leadership and his knowledge about how to finish plays without earning a flag. He needs to corral this group and demand the mistakes stop for this season from sinking any deeper.

• Kyle Rachwal: The senior linebacker made a lot of plays Saturday, leading the Eagles with 11 tackles but delivered a key play in the second half. Rachwal along with defensive end Maxx Crosby combined to stop Knox on fourth-and-1 from the EMU late in the third quarter. Purdue had built momentum, moving 53 yards on nine plays after starting on its own 3-yard line, but was stuffed by Rachwal.

Purdue's Rondale Moore, right, and Cornel Jones discuss a personal foul call in the fourth quarter in West Lafayette on September 8, 2018. Purdue lost 20-19 to Eastern Michigan. Frank Oliver for the Journal & Courier

Purdue's Spencer Evans, left, and Byron Perkins react to the game winning field goal by Eastern Michigan as time expired in West Lafayette on September 8, 2018. Purdue lost 20-19. Frank Oliver for the Journal & Courier

Rondale Moore of Purdue fumbles the ball as he is hit by Ikie Calderon of Eastern Michigan in the first half Saturday, September 8, 2018, in West Lafayette. Purdue fell to Eastern Michigan 20-19. John Terhune/Journal & Courier,

Purdue tight end Brycen Hopkins is chased by Kyle Rachwal of Eastern Michigan after a pass reception in the first half Saturday, September 8, 2018, in West Lafayette. Purdue fell to Eastern Michigan 20-19. John Terhune/Journal & Courier,

Purdue tight end Brycen Hopkins is brought down by Jalen Phelps and Kyle Rachwal of Eastern Michigan after a pass reception in the first half Saturday, September 8, 2018, in West Lafayette. Purdue fell to Eastern Michigan 20-19. John Terhune/Journal & Courier,

Purdue kicker Spencer Evans, right, is congratulated by teammate Ben Makowski after his field goal put the Boilermakers up 3-0 over Eastern Michigan at 3:53 in the first quarter Saturday, September 8, 2018, in West Lafayette. Purdue fell to Eastern Michigan 20-19. John Terhune/Journal & Courier,

Purdue quarterback David Blough is brought down by the Eastern Michigan defense after a carry in the first half Saturday, September 8, 2018, in West Lafayette. Purdue fell to Eastern Michigan 20-19. John Terhune/Journal & Courier,

Purdue quarterback David Blough is chased down by Vince Calhoun of Eastern Michigan in the first half Saturday, September 8, 2018, in West Lafayette. Purdue fell to Eastern Michigan 20-19. John Terhune/Journal & Courier,

Eastern Michigan quarterback Tyler Wiegers with a pass against Purdue in the first half Saturday, September 8, 2018, in West Lafayette. Purdue fell to Eastern Michigan 20-19. John Terhune/Journal & Courier,

D. J. Knox of Purdue races to the endzone for a score in the fourth quarter against Eastern Michigan Saturday, September 8, 2018, in West Lafayette. Eastern Michigan defeated Purdue 20-19. John Terhune/Journal & Courier,

Purdue fans brave the weather as the Boilermakers host Eastern Michigan Saturday, September 8, 2018, in West Lafayette. They didn’t have a lot to smile about, as Purdue fell to Eastern Michigan 20-19 on a field goal as time expired. John Terhune/Journal & Courier,

Eastern Michigan kicker Chad Ryland, left, reacts after his field goal as time ran out lifted the Eagles to a 20-19 victory over Purdue Saturday, September 8, 2018, in West Lafayette. John Terhune/Journal & Courier,

Eastern Michigan kicker Chad Ryland, right, reacts after his field goal as time ran out lifted the Eagles to a 20-19 victory over Purdue Saturday, September 8, 2018, in West Lafayette. John Terhune/Journal & Courier,

Eastern Michigan kicker Chad Ryland reacts after his field goal as time ran out lifted the Eagles to a 20-19 victory over Purdue Saturday, September 8, 2018, in West Lafayette. John Terhune/Journal & Courier,

• Another penalty. Matt McCann was flagged for a chop block in the second quarter.

Situation: Trailing 7-6, Purdue faced third-and-3 midway through the second quarter from the EMU 7. Knox rushed for 3 yards, but the penalty pushed the Boilermakers back to the 19-yard line. One play later, Rondale Moore fumbled after a 9-yard reception. A field goal would’ve given the Boilermakers a 9-7 lead but instead walked away with nothing in what would finish as a one-point game.

Situation The Eagles needed 15 yards to reach the first down, and Wiegers hooked up with Jackson across the middle and took advantage of Purdue’s shoddy cornerback play. The conversion came one play after Wiegers was sacked by Cornel Jones and Bailey.

3 NUMBERS

16: Penalties through two games for the Boilermakers, who have committed six in the fourth quarter.

66.7: Completion percentage by Northwestern’s Clayton Thorson and Wiegers the last two weeks.

131: The Boilermakers’ total yardage advantage in their first two games but sit 0-2.

2 QUESTIONS

• Will we see changes at the cornerback positions this week?

• How do the Boilermakers recover from this 0-2 hole?

1 FINAL THOUGHT

Is this more about poise than schemes? Are the problems related to discipline issues compared to X’s and O’s? Purdue still needs to upgrade its talent, but would that alone have prevented what we’ve seen the last two weeks when it comes to penalties and mistakes? Don’t know. More talent is needed – and it’s coming based on the 2019 recruiting class - to overcome the miscues and create big plays. But at some point, Brohm must demand this group play sound, fundamental football instead of what we’re seeing. As far as the actual play, the offense is churning out yards but not enough points. The defense made strides in the second week but face a lot more daunting challenges the rest of the year. Reaching six wins was attainable when this season started but Purdue couldn’t suffer a surprising setback. Now, the Boilermakers must steal a win or two to get back on a path that ends where they want it to at the end of the season.